Liverpool vs Manchester United: Jose Mourinho could face FA investigation after making comments about referee

Mourinho claimed criticism of referee Anthony Taylor could affect his performance on Monday night

The Football Association is looking into comments made by Jose Mourinho about referee Anthony Taylor (Getty)

The Football Association are looking into comments made by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho ahead of Monday night’s hotly-anticipated match with Liverpool after he spoke publicly about the appointment of referee Anthony Taylor.

Mourinho addressed the issue of Taylor taking charge of the match given he resides in Manchester after Keith Hackett, former head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited body, criticised to appointment.

Asked in his Friday press conference if the criticism could affect Taylor, Mourinho said: "I think Mr Taylor is a very good referee but I think somebody with intention is putting such a pressure on him that I feel that it will be difficult for him to have a very good performance.”

The Press Association is reporting that the FA’s governance team are now looking into the United manager’s comments, and may choose to contact him ahead of the Monday night encounter.

New rules were introduced in 2009 in an attempt to crack down on pre-match comments about officials which could be viewed as intimidatory or influential.

In its statement at the time the FA said: "Clubs are being advised that any media comments by managers, players or any other club officials relating to appointed match officials prior to a fixture will no longer be allowed - such pre-match comments will be deemed improper and dealt with accordingly."

Additional reporting by PA